While the Watchdogs of Farron medallion is equipped, the player will be placed in a queue to defend the Crucifixion Woods area from trespassers. Once an Embered player steps foot in the swamp beyond the Halfway Fortress bonfire, a Watchdog will be summoned through the covenant sigil into the world of the trespasser. While in the trespasser's world, the player must defend the Farron Keep area by defeating the Host of Embers. After defeating the host, the player will return to his or her world with a Wolf's Blood Swordgrass.

Watchdogs may pursue their targets to any point within the Road of Sacrifices past the Halfway Fortress, and into Farron Keep itself, however they will only be summoned if a Host of Embers has trespassed the upper swamp area, a Watchdog will not be summoned if a player is within the lower poison swamp zone.